#BLOGMAS: Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everybody! I hope you all got what you wished for and had a wonderful day with your loved ones. I also picked the giveaway winner today so another congratulations to Jessica @anxiouslybeinghavok! I can't wait to send these things to you! For those who entered, thank you so much! I loved reading through everything that was on your Christmas Wishlist & just wished I could give you all something but there's always a next time!

Kalen, Monica & Jeremy's family, including our family (+ Teddy of course!) went on a little road trip to see the ocean and have a picnic. It was all nice & beautiful until it started raining and don't even get me started on the fog - it was crazy dangerous!

But it was time with friends & family so we all had a great time. It made me so much more appreciative of the time we had together since our parents are always busy & working. And I understand a lot of families can't be together on these special days for various reasons so it made it all the more special. My sympathies to all those who spent the holidays apart & best wishes.

Love Always,
Anna Banana ♡

#BLOGMAS: Gingerbread Cookies!

Merry Christmas Eve! At the beginning of every year, Christmas feels so far away, but alas, it's finally here! Well, almost. And of course, there's the tradition of leaving cookies for Santa so I thought it was fitting to do a baking post today. I got a Gingerbread recipe from Taste, an Australian site that has a collection of various recipes, so be sure to check that out :-)

I usually make some modifications to recipes since I don't want too much fat or sugar in them so I just reduce the amount, and honestly, they still taste great. So don't be afraid to cut back on things you don't want too much of (it may not make too much of a difference health-wise, but hey, it's the little things, isn't it?)

I got these adorable cookie cutters from IKEA a few months ago (I think). I actually couldn't find the classic gingerbread man cutters but thought these were just so cute & something different. However, it was a little hard since the long 'handle' bit was prone to breaking off before & after baking.

It was also my first time using an electric beater & whisking eggs to form a 'soft peak'. I always had to whisk by hand & it never got to where I needed it to be so the end product was never what I wanted. But finally, I cracked & got it and I think it was $20 well spent since it actually worked.

I just used little plastic bags & cut a tiny corner to do the piping and it was so much fun! I think this would also be a great activity for kids as well. Being able to decorate their own cookies & eating them afterwards would be a real treat :-)

So, what do you think? Not bad, huh? As you can see, some of the cookies don't have the stem part since they broke off but c'est la vie! And of course, I had to make Patrick Star out of the star-shaped ones. Does it even look like him though? :P

Be sure to tell me what your favourite cookies are, what's on your Christmas wishlist & any other traditions you may have because I love reading about all of that.

Love Always,
Anna Banana ☃

#BLOGMAS: Christmas Party Make-Up & OOTD

It's that time of year - Christmas & New Year's Parties! I, for one, am not really a party girl. My friends and I are pretty much the stay at home in comfortable clothes & snuggle up to watch a movie type of people so I'm not too used to going out to party. However, we do attend family & work parties so I thought I'd show you what I wore to the work party Kalen dragged me to on the weekend.

The make up was pretty basic - the usual foundation, bronzer & blush. I wore a little shimmer on my eyes with the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad To The Bronze with some winged liner & mascara (oops, not pictured!). Then I topped it off with red lips to make it a little more festive & Christmas-y. And of course, my new favourite nail polish, Essie's Fifth Avenue to match my lips.

My dress is also one of my favourites - a really dark navy, almost black polka dot dress with red heels that tie in my lips & nails. I can't remember where I got them but I do know that my little purse is from Forever New. I got it for my Year 10 Formal/Prom so that was a long, long time ago but I absolutely adore it.

I don't like to be too over the top wearing revealing super shiny or super revealing dresses & like to keep it a little more 'elegant' with a touch of colour here & there. So what do you think? Are you a party person or a stay-at-home kinda person? Any plans for Christmas & the New Year? Be sure to let me know in the comments section down below! :-)

Love Always,
Anna Banana ♡

#BLOGMAS: 2014 Beauty Favourites

Seeing as it's nearing the end of the year & there are all sorts of countdowns for the best of 2014 and whatnot, I thought I'd do my own 2014 Beauty Favourites. Although, I will admit I took these photos a while ago (before my Sephora haul) and so there are some things I would have loved to include since then. However, I would have only been using them for 1 of 12 months in the year so it didn't seem fair to include them in the 2014 Favourites.

MAKE-UP

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Powder, Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, The Body Shop Honey Bronzer Shade 1, Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner, Benefit They're Real! Mascara, Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil, Maybelline Experwear Quad, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad To The Bronze & See By Chloé Perfume.

Oops! I forgot to include my favourite thing - Blush! I've been using the Physician's Formula Happy Booster Blush throughout the year but I'm loving the Clinique Cheek Pop & of course Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy.

LIPS

EOS Lipbalms, The Body Shop Colour Crush in Shade 14 Magenta Be, Maybelline Colour Elixir in Fuchsia Flourish, Rimmel Apocalips in Stellar & the Dior Lip Glow.

NAILS

Revitanail Nail Strengthener in Pink, Essie Polish in Lilacism, Rimmel Salon Pro in Jazz Funk & Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Top Coat.

SKIN CARE

The Body Shop Raspberry Body Scrub & Butter, The Body Shop Mango Hand Cream & my Clarisonic Mia 2.

HAIR CARE 

Schwarzkopf Heat Protection Spray, Garnier Fructis Miraculous Oil & Salon Elite Tangle Teezer.

A pretty short, sweet & self-explanatory post from me today. What products have you been loving throughout the year? I'd love some suggestions & recommendations since I'm doing some major spending these days and would probably go out and buy things straightaway. I've been really loving the REN face masks & have been researching a lot of their skin care products as well so I'd love any & all advice about them.

Love Always,
Anna Banana ♡

#BLOGMAS: Teddy's First Christmas!

So, I've been shopping... A lot these days. I mean, I know it's Christmas, but I should be on a very strict spending ban because I've been out of hand lately. As you can see, I started Christmas shopping for Teddy's First Christmas! Woo hoo! We're all super excited. Petbarn has become one of my new favourite stores. I'm the type of person who can't wait to use something once I buy it. And I don't know how I'm refraining from giving Teddy her new bone or toys, but I am and have hung her stocking up on our tree. I really wish we had a fireplace to hang Christmas stockings but we don't have one & so we never had this kind of tradition :-( Anyways, I couldn't resist dressing her in her new Santa dress. She kinda looks like Superdog in this picture but still cute, right?

I should tell you that this is a slightly older photo. Big news, she got her first shave! She's sooooo skinny now & I didn't want her fur to be too short so we kept stressing that to the groomers. We were so relieved that she turned out absolutely adorable & for more pics of her, check out her Instagram! That's right, I made her an Instagram! And since she got all her vaccinations & is allowed out, we went on our first walk & play date with my cousins & their dog.There's so much fun going on there so I'd love for you to check it out :-)

Love Always,
Anna Banana ♡

#BLOGMAS: Gifts For Him & Her

I mentioned in my Gifts For Her post that I was trying not to fall into the stereotypical category of gifts for men & women, and making those posts got a little difficult because a lot of the same things were suitable for both genders. So, naturally, I'm doing a post for Him & Her gifts. As I was looking for gift ideas, I realised that Him & Her could imply either unisex gifts or couple gifts, so I have a bit of both.

I went to The Body Shop recently and they seriously have so many gift sets for both men & women. And everyone has skin, right? All of their products are amazing & they have different sets for different skin needs - as in, for your feet, moisturising, shaving for men, etc.

Diptyque Fragrances are also quite nice & personally, I think they could be unisex, don't you? Depending on which scent you go for, a lot of them are quite 'neutral' and not too flowery or 'girly', etc, and same with their candles.

As you can see, there are a few couple-y gifts such as the matching Mr & Mrs Mugs, His & Her Watches and a matching pyjama set. My favourite would have to be the cute little keyring & holder. I should tell you now, I randomly googled images and picked the cute ones so I don't necessarily know where to buy the products, so I apologise for that.

One thing you definitely can't go wrong with are gift cards & chocolate/food hampers. I mean, can you say no to free shopping & chocolate & food? I love giving & receiving gift cards because they're just so simple. Maybe it's 'cheating' but really, it's win-win since it makes gift giving easy for you & the person you're buying for can get what they really want.

So that concludes the gift guide series but stay tuned for the next post because it's a special Doggy Christmas edition. Bet you're hooked, huh? :P

Love Always,
Anna Banana ♡

#BLOGMAS: Gifts For Her

So, here are some gift ideas for girls. For that special someone, I really don't think you can go wrong with jewellery - ahem, Tiffany's. I mean, what girl can resist those gorgeous blue bags & white ribbons? Another common interest I noticed amongst girls/women was stationery. I mean, isn't that mainly the reason you're reading my blog as well? :P

Some Filofaxes aren't too pricey, especially the smaller ones & I think the Calipso is really quite worth it. And with that, you can't just skip the Washi Tape, now, come on. The MT brand is probably the most common & for a reason too - they're just amazing. And if a planner isn't what you're looking for, Emily Ley has these gorgeous Simplified Journals (which I'm tempted to buy myself). Not to mention her planners are amazing as well.

For the book lovers, there are heaps & heaps of options. Of course, 2014's must have, The Fault In Our Stars is a pretty safe bet. As well as the much-loved Fuji Instax cameras & the ever so wonderful Diptyque candles. I recently went into the Body Shop & saw heaps of gift packs ranging from small stocking stuffers to huge baskets so you can't go wrong there either.

My personal favourites include tea (in particular, cute mugs) & the Longchamp Backpack. I have both the backpack & the tote but I prefer the backpack so much more. It's convenient, adorable & is deceivingly spacious. Overall, a slightly pricey yet incredibly worthwhile gift.

I hope you liked these gift ideas. I tried not to adhere to too many gender stereotypes but in the end, girls just tend to like particular things as guys tend to like particular things. But all in all, I hope this helped you get your presents ready. Was there anything here you got or would like to get? I would love some more suggestions as well!

Love Always,
Anna Banana ♡

#BLOGMAS: Gifts For Him

I for one take no shame in admitting I am terrible at giving gifts. It is a very stressful time for me when the holidays approach. I'm better at buying for my female friends but I just don't get boys... Is that just me?

So, I did a little research (a.k.a. nagging Kalen & Jeremy about what they wanted) and came up with a list of things guys might like. I realised a lot of it was technology-related or the classic pair of socks. Granted, Teddy has claimed a lot of their socks as hers so I kinda owe them that.

My favourites on this list would have to be the Funko Pop! Figures, Mophie Juice Pack & the Backpack. I'm a huge fan of Batman and just think they're adorable. And also, being a huge Apple fan, the idea of something like a Mophie is just so cool. Being able to just turn your case on whenever you need a charge is such a neat idea. And don't get me started on how cute the Fjallraven Backpacks are - I particularly love this bright yellow colour.

An electric shaver is also handy and lasts a long time. I bought Kalen one of these years ago & it's still going strong. If you want to get your man something he uses almost everyday, this would be perfect.

I hope this helped you somewhat because I certainly know what I'll be getting my friends & family this year.

Love Always,
Anna Banana ♡

#BLOGMAS: The Winterlicious Tag

Hello everybody! Thank you so much for your comments on my last post. I love reading about what's on your Christmas list. Speaking of, I forgot to mention that I will be picking the winner of the giveaway on Christmas day and sent it as soon as I can.

Anyways, for today's post, I thought I'd do another tag. I know technically you need to be tagged by someone but I saw this on YouTube and wanted to join in on the fun. I was thinking of maybe changing it to the Summerlicious Tag since it's summer here in Australia, but I just love Winter & all the clothes you can wear. One of the things on my Christmas list has always been a White Christmas so I can't wait for that day to come.

But without further ado, here's the tag. And of course, I tag all of you reading this! I'd love to read your responses so make sure you tell me if/when you do it :-)

1. Favourite winter nail polish? 

Revlon 740 Get Reddy (really old, probably discontinued...)

But I got Fifth Avenue by Essie yesterday & I think I've got a new favourite

2. Favourite winter lip product?

Revlon 745 Raspberry Bite (again, I think it's discontinued...)

3. Favourite winter scent/candle?

Glasshouse Tahaa & Bordeaux Reed Diffuser

(I loooove Vanilla & Caramel scents)

4. Favourite winter beverage?

Yorkshire Gold Tea (loose leaf)

5. All time favourite holiday movie?

Do the Harry Potter series count?

They're weirdly festive for me, especially the first one :D

6. Favourite Christmas song?
Let It Snow & Baby, It's Cold Outside
Is it weird I prefer the Glee Cast versions?

7. Favourite holiday food/treat?

White Chocolate & Macadamia Cookies (my specialty ;P)

8. Favourite Christmas decoration this year?

It's not really a decoration but I'm in love with my Starbucks Alice & Olivia Mug

9. What's at the top of your Christmas list?

Olympus OMD Camera or Canon 60D DSLR

10. What are your plans for the holidays this year?

Spending time with my friends, family & of course, Teddy!

11. Most worn winter accessory?

Cream beanie & red woolly scarf

12. Most worn winter piece?

Same as above...?

Again, I hope you're all enjoying #Blogmas! Not long until Christmas, folks!

Love Always,

Anna Banana ♡

#BLOGMAS: Annie's Favourite Thiiiiiings! (Giveaway time!)

It has been waaaaay too long since my last giveaway & I kept telling myself do a 2K giveaway, which then turned into a 2.5K giveaway, and maybe someday soon, even a 3K giveaway! But I just wanted to show you just how much I appreciated all your love & support all these years. I never would have made so many friends in so many different countries if it weren't for Instagram and now I'm happily blogging as well. So, I gathered a few things to put into a cute little package & send off to one of you!

If you would like to enter this 2.5K/Christmas Giveaway, all you need to do is leave a comment down below telling me what's on top of your Christmas list this year. If you have Instagram & have commented on my last post, leave a comment down below telling me you did so that you get an extra entry into the draw :D (does that make sense?)

And also, a My Week post. I know, it's been a while, but here it finally is. I hope you all had a great week as well & talk to you soon!

Love Always,
Anna Banana ♡

♡ #BLOGMAS 2014: Sephora Haul!!!

The day has finally come! I honestly can't believe it. What I can't believe even more is the fact that we waited in line for 2 hours in the scorching Aussie sun to get in. But boy was it worth it. I was a liiiiittle bit disappointed they didn't have a few things, but hey, we came back hands full, credit cards drained & hearts happy. Of course I went with Monica but it was sweet of Kalen & Jeremy to come with us. They went to get some boy stuff first but came back with cool drinks and stayed with us the entire time. It's the little things in life that just make you so happy, don't you think so?

The Sephora staff were also super nice. They handed out free gelato since it was so hot (unfortunately we missed out), but they gave almost everyone there these little gift bags. In it was the latest Cosmopolitan magazine, a sparkling water with a hint of lemon (soooo good!!) & Peanut Butter Flavoured TimTams. The little pink lips chocolate in the middle was from the cute Benefit boys at the door ;-) I just think that was such a sweet gesture on behalf of them.

Not to mention the opening 'ceremony' was so much fun. They had a countdown & played Shake It Off where the staff came out and danced. Then when it was finally time, there was confetti everywhere. It was so exciting, I've never been to anything like it. What was even more fun was that we made really nice friends in line as well.

And now... Ladies & Gentlemen... The goodies! I bought nearly everything on my Sephora Wishlist but was sad when I couldn't find some stuff. I really, really wanted the small Tarte Airbuki Brush but I don't think they had that, as well as the Tarte Lipstick & the Lavanilla deodorant. However, I got another Tarte brush that seems similar to the one I wanted & after reading a lot of positive comments about it, I'm feeling a lot better. And can I just say, the Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Mineral Foundation & Blush is amazing.

I was going back & forth between getting the Formula X System pack for $60 or not. I kept telling myself that considering you save $20 it wasn't that bad and that my nail polish will most definitely last longer with all of it. I tried it on as soon as I got home & am in loooove with the colour. So I definitely do not regret it :-) I got the shade Exclamation in case anyone's wondering.

When I was on the phone with my mom, she joked, "Get me a lipstick!". I actually wasn't sure if she was joking or not, but since Christmas is just around the corner & she's done such amazing things for me my whole life, in particular this year, I thought I'd splurge a little & bought her a Marc Jacobs lipstick in the shade Heartbroken. Let me just say, the entire Marc Jacobs collection is drool-worthy but unfortunately very expensive.

And finally, the Kat Von D Tattoo liner. Of course I had to try everything on this morning & I have to say, it just glides on. It's so much easier to apply than the Stila one but it's not as long-wearing. The Stila liner didn't budge once you put it on, but the Kat Von D one does rub off quite easily.

Depending on how you look at it, I either bought a lot, or not that much. I was kinda proud of myself that I didn't put too much in my basket, but once I got to the checkout... not-so-happy. I was so excited that they said they were going to match U.S. prices but was sad at how expensive it still was. Nonetheless, I'm sure such big hauls at Sephora won't happen too often so I thought, why the heck not?

I hope you all had a great day & are enjoying #Blogmas so far :-)

Love Always,
Anna Banana ♡

#BLOGMAS 2014: Christmas/Sephora Wishlist

I honestly can't believe it... Sephora is opening in less than 24 hours! I was hoping to be there on the first day but the thought of endless lines kinda got me worried... Not to mention the weather seems miserable. I'm hoping I get to at least get in, if not I'll have to try another time :-(

But here is my Christmas Wishlist. As you can see, it is basically a Sephora Wishlist. This is the list, modified. It would have been twice as long but I thought I'd contain myself. The majority of it is from Tarte & I can't wait to try the Formula X nail polishes. I can't wait!

What's on your Christmas Wishlist this year? Have you tried any of these products? I'd love some reviews & recommendations. I was also dying for The Body Shop Advent Calendar but alas, not sold in Australia...

Oh well, Happy #Blogmas :-)

Love Always,
Anna Banana ♡

PUPPY TRILOGY PART III: Teddy Room Tour

So, a while back, I did a Room Tour post of my own room, but today, it's a room tour of Teddy's room. Yes, Teddy has her own room. She is quite the spoilt little pup. She seems really comfortable in her own room since there's a lot of room for her to roam & play. Plus, her door's open when she's not sleeping so she can play in different rooms & whatnot. I'm happy to report that the toilet training is around 75/25 at the moment. It just makes me so happy when she's playing in my room but then wanders off into her room to do her business.

Anyways, back to the room tour. Here is the little sign I made/painted for her door... Yes, I'm a little obsessed with her (Kalen wonders if I'm like this with a puppy, how I'd be with a real baby xD). I bought the letters at Bunnings Warehouse & just painted them myself. And the picture of her is the one you may have seen in Part I of this trilogy & on my Instagram. It's probably my absolute favourite picture of her & I just printed that out on photo paper :-)

This is her little sleeping & feeding area. I got this playpen hoping it would keep her in but alas, she just slips right through (although, these days, it's not as smooth as it was at first :P - she's growing so fast!). Nevertheless, I liked the way the playpen looked so I kept it there, along with her food & water bowls. The food bowl isn't usually there all day but I forgot to wash it when I took this pic :P Nice & cozy, huh? I also had a whiteboard I wasn't using and just hung it above her bed with her name again since I wasn't sure what to do with it. The location of it makes it hard for me to constantly change the writing or image, etc. so it just stays there :-)

Probably the coolest thing about her room is that it has a balcony which is connected to my room. In other words, if I wanted to spy on her, I could just get out onto the balcony via my room & just peep into her room. My parents suggested just keeping her out there permanently but there's no roof & I'm just a worried mama who wants to keep her baby indoors.

You may be able to see the mirror on the far left side. That's a large built-in wardrobe where we normally store things we don't use but it also has some shelves & drawers. I cleared one shelf to keep her food and another for the stack of newspapers & tape we have, thanks to Monica :-) The funny thing about the mirror is that you can see the lick marks where Teddy's always intrigued by her reflection.

I've cleared up the bottom row of my bookshelves so that Teddy wouldn't chew up all of my books or anything like that so here's what they look like now. I have one on each side of her playpen. You have no idea how much effort I put into planning all of this...it's embarrassing.

I also get a lot of compliments on the drawer inserts I got at IKEA. I just bought 2 of ones with the drawers & 2 of the ones with the door and Kalen helped me assemble them. It was really quite easy. This is what is in them, from left to right.

First insert: all the grooming essentials. I try to brush her everyday to prevent her fur from matting. Her toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, cologne, and all the other stuff is in here.

Second Insert, Top Drawer: Towels for after her bath and any miscellaneous things like her other collar & little bow that I didn't want to throw away.

Second Insert, Bottom Drawer: Heat Pillow. I actually made this a while back when I had a few digestive issues and the doctor suggested heat packs. It's really simple; 2 pieces of fabric, rice & lavender oil. I also added some decorations to cute it up a little. A few minutes in the microwave & you've got yourself a heat pack :-) Maybe something to use on the warmer nights.

Third Insert, Top Drawer: Worming pills, coupons, the puppy pack we got from the breeder & the poop bags that came with it. Since we don't take her out on walks, I haven't used the poop bags yet but is it weird that I can't wait to?

Third Insert, Bottom Drawer: Blanket. This is the one we use occasionally such as when we take her somewhere in the car or for the warmer nights, etc. It was one of my favourite blankets but now, it's hers :D

Fourth Insert: Treats! I've gotta say, the Schmacko's Twirlz are not winners. Teddy wouldn't go near them. Let me just say, the image on the front is very misleading. And she liked the Milky Sticks at first but she got a little sick from them so they're both gone now. She absolutely loves the Puppy Rewards though and it was because of them that she is confident with our whole staircase! Although, it does worry me a little sometimes...

It's that time of the year when 2015 Calendars are on sale everywhere and I just couldn't resist a mini one with King Charles Cavalier Spaniel puppies. Teddy probably won't be able to see it but it is of her mommy & just so cute. Also, a good way to keep track of worming, vaccinations, vet checks, etc.

One of my favourite products is the little doggy butt hanger thing I also got at IKEA. Honestly, the majority of both our rooms is from IKEA. I got this idea from Pinterest and since I had the Scrabble stickers laying around from last year, I thought I'd do it as well. So that's where I hang her leash & her collar when she's not wearing it.

And that concludes our tour! I know, it's a little extreme. But really, there were 2 spare rooms not being used so this one would not be missed. And it's right next to my room. Does anyone else go as crazy as I do? Or is this not even that bad?

Anyways, I hope you're all excited about #Blogmas & I'll see you in 2 days! :-)

Love Always,
Anna Banana ♡

☃ Introducing... #BLOGMAS 2014! + Priceline Haul

I watch a lot of YouTube - mainly beauty videos & vlogs and I love Vlogmas videos (as well as hauls :P) so I thought maybe... I'd do #Blogmas? I tried to plan out 24-25 blog post ideas to post everyday but I was lacking creativity (and still am) so I thought I'd blog every other day. In other words, every even-numbered day there will be a blog post. They may not all be Christmas related and since Sephora's opening in AHHH 5 days, there will be hauls as well...like today's post. I hope you look forward to it because I definitely am & have put quite some effort into it :-)

And for a quick haul. Priceline is having a lot of sales. There's a 3 for 2 sale going on in the Essie range and so I got Lovie Dovie (darker pink), Spaghetti Strap (pale pink) & Splash of Grenadine (purplish shade). Lovie Dovie was a little more neon-y than I expected but the other 2 colours are ah-mazing! I love them so much. Spaghetti Strap in particular is a pale pink I've been wanting for a while now & have finally found it. I was also out of eye make-up remover & concealer so I just went out for a repurchase, but the Real Techniques Sponge is unbelievable. I run it under the tap & it gets bigger & softer. When I apply my Bourjois CC Cream with it, it leaves such a natural finish. I'm in love with it. I even got my mom one because she wanted a sponge as well so I'm hoping she likes it.

My skin hasn't been the greatest lately. I'm afraid, I might be a little allergic to Teddy. But I have been taking some medicine & it's getting a little better, but I'll keep you posted. My cousin recommended the brand La Roche-Posay and I went to check it out, splurged a little, and came back with no regrets to miracle products. It's only been one day & there's already a noticeable difference in my skin. It's a lot smoother & softer & it's never felt better. I will definitely keep you posted on that.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed my somewhat short post & are excited for #Blogmas as well! See you in 2 days :-)

Love Always,

Anna Banana ♡